Scheme Information Sheets
UK NEQAS for Ammonia [Pilot]
Birmingham Quality is pleased to announce a pilot scheme for the analysis of Ammonia.
Ammonia is measured to diagnose and monitor hyperammonaemia. It is used to help diagnosis hepatic encephalopathy in severe liver disease, inherited urea cycle disorders, and Reye’s syndrome.
Serum specimens are sent packed with ice packs in an insulated envelope. They may thaw in transit; this is not a problem unless they have been in the post for a prolonged time.
Please analyse your specimens immediately, if possible. If you are unable to do this, please store the specimens frozen, until you are able to analyse them. Specimens are stable in the freezer until at least the deadline for returning results.
Due to the limited stability of Ammonia in serum/plasma, it is very important to handle your EQA specimens carefully. If you forward specimens on to other sites, please put in processes to ensure that the integrity of the material is maintained.
We always ask participants to return the date of receipt and date of analysis. This is especially important for the UK NEQAS for Ammonia [Pilot] Scheme.
| Scheme Particulars | Indicative Details |
|---|---|
| Accreditation body | Not yet accredited |
| ISO/IEC Accreditation status | Pilot scheme - not yet accredited to ISO/IEC 17043:2023 |
| UKAS Accredited Proficiency Testing Provider No | Not yet accredited |
| Objective of Scheme | Provides EQA coverage and analytical assessment using both endogenous and manipulated material for Ammonia. The scheme covers the analytical working range up to 800 µmol/L, covering clinically important concentrations. |
| Pre-, Analytical, Post- status | Analytical |
| Number of distributions per year (nominal) | 11 |
| Specimens per distribution | 3 |
| Number of Specimens per annum | 33 |
| Frequency of distribution | Monthly |
| Scoring system | ABC |
| Material distributed | Pooled, liquid human serum with or without exogenous added analyte, packaged in insulated envelopes with ice. Specimens must be either analysed immediately, or stored frozen until analysis. |
| Programme Director(s) / Organiser(s) | Finlay MacKenzie |
| Criteria for participation | All UK. No overseas participants served by distributors. Other overseas considered on case by case basis. Participants are expected to analyse specimens upon receipt, or store them frozen until analysis. |
| Nominal sample volume (mL) | 0.5 |
| Sample presentation TACs | Single analyte scheme |
| Data in Chemistry on-line Dashboard | Yes |
| Analyte | Approx Range | Default Units | Target Value | B Score Limit (%) | C Score Limit (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | 30 – 800 | µmol/L | ALTM | 20.0 | 25.0 |
| Abbreviation | Expansion |
|---|---|
| ALTM | All Laboratory Trimmed Mean |
| GLTM | Group Laboratory Trimmed Mean – which is the Method Principle Mean |
| MLTM | Method Laboratory Trimmed Mean – usually a manufacturer system / analyser mean |
| XALTM | An external value that may be from a Reference Method System |
| OGLTM | A Method Principle Mean used as the target for all laboratories |
| OMLTM | A specific Method Mean used as a target for all laboratories |
| MED | Median |
- Ammonia 2025 schedule 48 KB
Please use the sign up form to register your interest in this scheme (quoting your UK NEQAS Laboratory ID where available). We would encourage you to provide us with details of which analytes you measure and the analyser and ‘kit’ (reagent and calibrator) you are using. This will help us tailor the scheme to your needs.
